Lesson 2: Follow Your Passions

“A life without passion is not living, it’s merely existing.” Leo Bruscaglia

What are you passionate about? What activities ignite your zest for life, pushing you to better yourself? What aspects of your life provide you with a sense of strength and purpose?

The dictionary offers various definitions of passion, but the one that is most relevant to this lesson is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. Notice the adjectives intense desire or enthusiasm. These are what separate passions from normal day-to-day activities, or practices.

Practices like washing the dishes or making the bed might provide a sense of purpose, but most likely they don’t inspire you throughout your day. Practices are important, but in most cases, they don’t drive people. For example, most people are probably more passionate about listening to music as opposed to taking out the trash. If that is not true for you, I digress.

Just like you can have more than one person, place, or thing that is important to you, you may also have multiple passions that invigorate your life. And naturally what’s important and what you are passionate about can change depending on the circumstances in your life.

Pursuing a passion doesn’t mean you have to get paid to do it. That would be awesome, but it’s not always feasible. I started training for triathlons this year. I’m totally passionate about it. I enjoy pushing my mind and body to the limits. It is a new passion of mine. At the moment, it’s not realistic for me to make this a profit-earning venture.

Just cause you’re not earning doesn’t mean you’re not yearning! I still get stoked about training and competing in triathlons even though I have to pay money to do it. The reward is in the work.

People all over the world spend hours pursuing passions that will never earn them a dime. Following their passions is a reward in itself. Being actively engaged in passion can’t always be labeled with a price tag. As soon as money becomes more important than the act itself, a tiny bit of the passion is lost.

Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with pursuing a passion that reaps financial gain. There are also many people following their passions on a daily basis through the work they do. But be careful of the money trap. I urge you to not get caught up chasing money. If you love what you do because you are passionate about it the gains will come, financial or otherwise.

What about those individuals who don’t have the time, money, or resources available to purse their passions? What should they do? How can they follow their passions?

I don’t have the answers to these questions, but I can suggest that if your passions are essential driving forces in your life; if they are so vital that you can’t stop thinking about them; if they excite you more than anything else, then find a way to follow them! Find a way! Let go of the obstructions in your life telling you that it is not possible.

Follow your passions and you don’t ever look back. Take care of your responsibilities as needed, but don’t lose sight of your passions. By not following your passions you are robbing yourself, the opportunity to experience greatness, and perhaps you are missing out on a chance to share your talents and gifts with others.